Overhead ceiling structure with an integral fixture assembly



Sept. 26, 1967' N. NETZ ETAL 3,343,310

OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY FilediNov.16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I ,l joo' 94- g1 INVENTORS NORMANNe-rz,EmnuueLb-E nummo,

44 QMQWQYW EueeueBmzmowsngevmoueFa-esomau ATTORNEY Sept. 26, I I N. NETZETAL 3, ,3 0

' ovE Sept. 26, 1967- N. NETZ' ET'AL OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH-ANINTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed. Nov. 16, 1 964INVENTORS Nos'zmnu Ne-rz EMANUEL BAUMAN,

EUGENEBARANOWS K fi f SEYMOUR Flze eomu I "12% m mm ATTORNEY Sept. 26,1967 N. N ETZ ETAL 3,

OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY Filed Nov.16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 4- U v INVENTORS NORMAN Ne-rz,EmA-us-LD.BnuMAN,

Eugen eBA'RaNowsm sevmuaFaeeowm ownmmm ATTORNEY Sept.- 26 1 967 I N.'YNETZ ETAL I 3,343,310

OVERHEAD CEILING-STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLY sSheets-Sheet 5' Filed Nov. 16, 1964 //vv/vr01f NORMAN NE-rz, EMANUEL. P.BAuMAN, E ueeNE BnnAuowsxfiSevmounFeeewm lllllllllll United StatesPatent OVERHEAD CEILING STRUCTURE WITH AN INTEGRAL FIXTURE ASSEMBLYNorman Netz, Bloomfield, Conn., Emanuel D. Bauman,

Loudonville, N.Y., and Eugene Baranowski, Forestville, and SeymourFreedman, West Hartford, Conn., assignors to Integrated Systems, Inc.,Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Nov. 16, 1964, Ser.No. 411,297

7 Claims. (Cl. 52-28) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An overhead ceilingwith an integrated fixture assembly, the fixture assembly beingsupported by yoke means including brackets at the apex of angularlyrelated rail means.

The present invention relates to supports employed primarily in overheadstructures such as suspended ceilings in the integration of ancillarylighting, ventilation or like equipment into the ceiling.

Under certain urrent construction procedures, interior ceilings ofsubstantial area are connected to an overhead roof or roofsuperstructure, the interior ceilings being generally known as suspendedceilings. In such ceilings, it has been found necessary and/or desirableto incorporate lighting or ventilating systems of various types,including upwardly spaced or coved lighting and ventilating means. It isa basic objective of the present invention to supply improved supportingmeans for the incorporation of the illumination or ventilation meansinto the ceilings, the supports being of a construction and assemblysuch that the system is fully compatible with available structuralmaterials for the construction of suspended ceilings.

Another object and advantage hereof resides in the provision of supportsas aforesaid, usable with existing ceiling hardware, and readilyapplicable to existing ceilings without drastic modification orreconstruction thereof.

A further object resides in the provision of supports of standardmodular dimension having new and novel bracket means whereby thesupports and appurtenant apparatus are readily substituted for existingmodules.

Additional objects include the provision of supports adapting theceiling to fixture mounting in such manner as to reduce glare whilemaintaining uniformity of brightness, and wherein the mounting providesa cutoff point for visual comfort in the line of sight; an arrangementproviding greater and more uniform distribution of light; and oneadapted for the employment of standard lighting and/ or ventilatingfixtures.

Yet another object is to provide a support for fixtures as aforesaidwherein the fixtures are easily maintained, are readily accessible fromthe underside for cleaning, repair or replacement of components, andmaybe used either with or without shields, diffusers, or otheraccessories.

An additional object of importance pertains to the construction andassembly of supports of this type from standard stock, with the resultthat the supports are non- 3,343,310 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 complex inconstruction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable inuse.

Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art from a consideration of the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of suspendedceiling construction with a first form of support of the instantinvention in use therewith;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, foreshortened, transverse sectional View on theline 2-2 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a further enlarged, detail cross sectional view on the line33 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of details, substantially on theline 44 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a portion of suspended ceilingconstruction hereof embodying a second form of support within the scopeof this invention;

FIGURE 6 is a partially disassembled, foreshortened perspective view ofthe support as employed in the embodiment of the invention in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing theararngement of adjacent fixtures when disassembled;

FIGURE 8 discloses apex members as constructed in an intermediate formof yoke member hereof;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in'FIGURES 6 and 7;

. FIGURE 10 is a detail sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of the apex portion of anotherform of support of this invention;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the apex portion per se of the memberof FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 13 shows still another embodiment of the support in frontelevation;

FIGURE 14 is a partially disassembled perspective of the device ofFIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged sectional view, showing details, taken on theline 15--15 of FIGURE 13, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of yet another form of yoke member andits apex portions;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1717 ofFIGURE 16, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of another formof the invention;

FIGURE 19 is a front elevation of the apex and adjacent portions of theyoke member of FIGURE 18;

FIGURE 20 shows yet another arrangement within the broad scope hereof;and

FIGURE 21 is a transverse section on the line 21-21 of FIGURE 20,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention, andreferring initially to the form shown in FIG- URES 1-4, the supportassembly and ceiling construction hereof are generally designatedtherein by reference numeral 30. The ceiling construction per seincludes at least one pair of spaced apart longitudinal rail members 32,34,

and transverse rail members 36. The rail members are of inverted T-shapeand each has an upstanding leg 38 with a bead 40 at its upper end, anddistal and proximal ledges 42, 44. The rail members are suspended in agrid arrangement, as shown, from some overhead anchorage such as a roofor roof beams (not shown) by hangar cables 46 with loops 48 engaged inopenings formed in the legs 38 below the beads 40.

Horizontally arranged blocks 50 of interior celing material, such asacoustical tile or the like, are suspended on the ledges 42 and 44 ofthe transverse rail members and on the distil ledges of the horizontalrail members. The blocks 50 thus form an interior ceiling disposed in agiven substantially horizontal plane.

A plurality of yoke assemblies 52 is provided for extension betweenselected pairs of longitudinal rails 32 and 34 for the mounting ofupwardly spaced equipment. The yoke assemblies 52 comprise upwardly andinwardly inclined side members 54, each of which has an upper end 56 anda lower end 58, a pair of longitudinal top rails 60, 62 suspended fromthe overhead support by top hanger cables 64 and substantially identicalto the rails 32, 34, and apex members 66. The side members 54 are of theinverted T-shaped material employed in fabrication of the rails, andinclude central stems 67 and side ledges 68, while the top rails haveinner and outer ledges 70 and 72 and upwardly extending legs 74. Blocks76 of ceiling material are supported between the side members on ledges68 and on the proximal ledges 44 and outer ledges 72 of the rails. Theside members are positioned and maintained in place in their inclinedpositions by upper and lower brackets 78 and 80.

The upper brackets 78 each comprise a fiat tongue 82 secured to the sidemember and projecting outwardly therefrom, and hook portion 84 engagedabout the legs 74 of the top rails 60 and 62. Lower brackets 80 aredescribed more fully hereinafter in respect of their employment in asubsequently disclosed form of the invention.

The apex members 66 of the yoke assembly comprise cross members 86 ofinverted T-shaped material with side ledges 88 and dividers 90 whichextend over the ledges 70 of the top rails. Hooks 92 are connected tothe divider ends and extend about the rail legs 74. A plurality ofsubstantially rectangular, elongated fixture housings 94 is provided.The housings 94 are substantially hollow and have a top 95, sides 96,bases 98, and ends 100, and the bases are supported on the inner ledges70 with the ends 100 resting on the side ledges 88 of the cross members86. The fixture housings contain apparatus such as fluorescent lightingequipment 102, which is retained in such manner that bulbs 104 and otherportions requiring maintenance and replacement are readily accessiblefrom below.

Since the longitudinal rails 32 and 34 comprise standard equipment, thesupporting assembly hereof is readily employed in existing structures.

In FIGURES 5-10', inclusive, a modification employing a unitary yokeassembly 200 is disclosed. The basic ceiling construction is aspreviously described, like reference numerals being employed with theletter asupplied for distinction. As best shown in FIGURE 6, each of theunitary yokes 200 comprises a pair of upwardly and inwardly inclinedside members 52a, the upper ends 56a of which are joined by an apexmember 202. The member 202 comprises an elongated, substantiallyrectangular bight portion 204 having ends 206, 208 and a lower edge 210.The edge 210 has horizontal tabs 212 and 214 extended in oppositedirections therefrom, and side arms 216 and 218 depend from the ends 206and 208, respectively. Angle plates 220 are connected to the arms and tothe ends 560 of the side members 52 as by rivets 222.

The brackets 80a (identical to brackets 80) are shown in FIGURE 6, andwill be seen therein to comprise a pair of oppositely arranged elementseach having a central portion 224 with a plate 226 connected to thelower ends 58a of the side members. A leg member 228 is connected toeach central portion and a foot 230 extends from the leg in such manneras to extend substantially parallel to the adjacent leg 38a of the rail32 or 34. As seen in the drawing, the plates 226 of each bracket arespaced apart by reason of their connection on opposite sides of the ends58a, and one foot member 230 of each bracket has an outwardly struck peg232. The legs 38a have slots 234 and 236 formed therein, the slot 236being arranged to receive the peg 232 which is bent as shown in FIGURE 9after insertion therethrough. The terminal end of each transverse rail36a is stepped at 238 as shown in FIGURE 6, and has an extendedengagement lip 240 which extends through the slot 234 and into the spacebetween the plates 226. Thus, the longitudinal and transverse rails andthe yoke assemblies are effectively interlocked together, and relativeshifting of the parts is prevented.

Fixture housings 94a are engaged with the yoke bight portions 204 byplacement of the tabs 212 and 214 into the open ends 100a thereof torest the tops 95a thereonthe sides 96a fitting against and being engagedby the ends 242 of the ledges of the side members 52a.

At locations intermediate the terminal ends 100w of the housing 94a,intermediate yoke assemblies 244 are provided for each transverse rail36a. The intermediate yoke 244 frictionally engages the housing 94aincluding support by the ends 242, but is devoid of other connectiontherebetween. The connection between its outer ends and the longitudinalrails 32a, 34a is as described with respect to the main yokes.

In yet another form of the invention, specifically shown in FIGURES 11and 12, reference numerals for elements corresponding to those in thefirst described forms bear a letter b for distinction. This form of thedevice includes a unitary yoke 52b with an apex member 202b. The apex202b has a bight portion 20% having integral angle plates 22% secured tothe side member ends 56b by rivets 222b or the like. The bight portionhas an upper edge 300 and oppositely struck, substantially horizontaltabs 212b and 21 4b extend outwardly therefrom, leaving upstandingdivision tabs 302 therebetween. The apex member 202b functions in amanner substantially like that of the member 202. As seen in FIGURE 11,the tops 95b of the fixture housings 94b are rested on the extendedhorizontal tabs 212b and 214b, the division tabs 302 functioning toseparate the fixtures and prevent direct abutment thereof which couldrender certain maintenance procedures more difficult to accomplish.

A quite similar yoke arrangement 52c is shown in FIG- URES 13-15, thisparticular form having the characteristic of assembly from separablecomponents. In this arrangement, the stems 67c of the sides 540 are ofopen channel form defining a trough 400 as shown in FIG- URE 15. An apexmember 202c has a bight portion 2040 with downwardly inclined angleplates 212c connected thereto at bend portions 402. The angle plateshave rigidifying ribs 404 which serve additionally as handle meanstherefor, and are inserted into the trough and frictionally held thereinby the stems 670. The bight 204c has an upper edge 3000 over whichsaddles 406 of U-shape are mounted, the saddles having outwardlyhorizontal tabs 212c and 214a functioning to engage the top 950 ofhousing 94c. In the event of usage of the yoke 520 in an intermediatelocation, saddles 406 are omitted but the arrangement is otherwise thesame.

In FIGURES 16 and 17 a slight modification 52d of the yoke arrangementis disclosed which may be employed either with or Without thehereinbefore mentioned saddles. In this construction, the stem sides 67dhave outwardly flared entry ends 500 to the channels or troughs 400d.The apex member 202d has a fiat bight portion 20411 from the ends ofwhich extend angle plates 212d engaged in the channels between the stemsides 67d.

Rivets 502 extend through the stem sides and angle plates to secure thesame together.

In the disclosure of FIGURES 18- and 19, the yoke 52e has an apex member2022 formed of inverted T- shaped stock, having a bight portion 204:;with ends 206e, 208a. Angle plates 212s are secured by rivets 222e tothe ends of the bight and to the adjacent ends 56e of the sides 54c. Thebight portions have ledge members 600 therebeneath to which fixturehousings 940 are secured by any suitable means, such as welding, or thelike, and the bulbs 104e may be covered with a shroud 602 if desired.The bights 2042 have apertures 604 formed therein whereby cables 606 tothe overhead support are attached if necessary.

Each of the angle plates 212a has a slot 608 therein, and angularlydisposed top rail elements 610 have projecting teeth 612 engagedtherein. A top covering 614 of ceiling material is mounted between theinward ledges 616 thereof.

In the adaptation of this apparatus to the support of particularly heavyequipment, a support yoke assembly 52 as shown in FIGURES 19 and 20 issometimes desirable. In such assembly, pairs of longitudinal top rails60], 62f are suspended on cables 64 between selected pairs oflongitudinal rails (not shown). Slanted side members 54 have upper ends56 connected to the top rails by means of hook means 700 each comprisingbody portions 702 connected to the ends 56 by rivets 704 and projectinghooks 706 engaged about the upstanding legs 74 of the rails. An opengrill member 202] forming an apex member, has an outer frame 710 ofsubstantially rectangular configuration extending between the railmembers, there being angular vanes 712 mounted therein. An air supplyduct 714, including a conduit 716 and a rectangular outlet 718 overlyingthe frame 710 is mount- 7 ed over the grill member to distribute airtherethrough.

It will be recognized that equipment other than the supply duct 714could be employed in this arrangement, such as other heating, cooling,lighting, or analogous means.

It will be noted that, in each of the specified arrangements, apparatusreadily employed in existing ceilings is supplied, and each includes ameans for the upward spacing of equipment such as lighting orventilating equipment in upwardly coved relation to the general flatwiseextent of the ceiling.

Having described and illustrated several embodiments of this inventionin some detail, it will be understood that these descriptions andillustrations are olTered merely by way of example, and that theinvention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suspended ceiling construction having transverse andlongitudinal rail members, ceiling materials supported between the railmembers, and at least one pair of opposing, open rail members, a fixturesupport assembly comprising:

at least one elongated fixture housing mounted in upwardly covedrelation between said one pair of open rail members in said fixturesupport assembly;

fixture means associated with said housing;

a plurality of yoke assemblies, each including upwardly inclined sidemembers and apex means, the side members each having an upper end and alower end;

the apex means including transversely arranged apex elements whichcorrelate the respective side member upper ends in a manner such thatthe fixture housing is engaged and supported thereby;

each fixture housing being mounted between the upper ends of the sidemembers;

means connecting the lower ends of the side members to.the rail membersof said one pair at spaced locations;

engagement means associated with the side members for retaining blocksof ceiling material;

blocks of ceiling material between the side members engaged by saidengagement means;

the blocks being upwardly and inwardly inclined from the ceiling; and

the blocks being inclined to the fixture housing to span the distancebetween said one pair of open rail members and to locate the fixturehousing in said upwardly coved relation to the one pair of rail members.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the means connecting the lower ends of the side members to the railmembers comprise brackets interlocked with said rail members. 4

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the engagement means for the blocks of ceiling material comprise lateralledges on said side members.

4. The invention of claim 1, and:

means extended from the apex means to engage the fixture housings, saidmeans comprising oppositely arranged, substantially horizontal tabsextending from said apex means.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the yoke assemblies are of unitary form and include an apex member witha bight portion having integral angle plates; and

horizontal tabs extending outwardly from the bight portion forengagement with the housings.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein:

the yoke assemblies are of separable form;

the apex members have bight portions with downwardly inclined angleplates secured thereto; and

saddles secured to the bight portions and having horizontal tabs thereonengaging the fixture housings.

7. In an overhead ceiling construction which includes a roof structure,at least one pair of spaced apart, longitudinal rail members, at leastone pair of transverse rail members secured to the longitudinal rail atspaced intersections, each rail member being of inverted T-shape andhaving an upstanding leg and distal and proximal ledges on oppositesides of the leg, hanger cables secured to the legs and to the roofstructure to support the rail members in downwardly spaced substantiallyparallel 1ocations, and the longitudinal rail member distal ledgessupporting horizontally arranged blocks of ceiling material thereonforming a ceiling disposed in a given plane, substantially, a covedlighting fixture and support assembly comprising:

a plurality of yoke assemblies, each including upwardly and inwardlyinclined side members, the side members having upper and lower ends;

the lower ends of the side members having brackets thereon;

the legs of the rail members having slots formed therein adjacent saidintersections;

the brackets having a central portion, legs extendingfrom the centralportion, and foot members secured to the legs, the foot members havingpeg members thereon engaged in the slots of the rail members whereby theside members are connected to the longitudinal rail members at saidintersections;

the transverse rail members being interlocked with the brackets at saidintersections;

each side member being ofinverted T-shape and having side ledges;

ceiling panels supported on the ledges of the side members in opposing,upwardly angled relation to the plane of the horizontal blocks;

an elongated fixture housing secured between the upper ends of the yokeside members;

illumination means connected to the fixture housing;

and

apex means interconnecting the yoke side member upper ends.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSChambers 52-28 X Naysrnith 5228 X Jacobson 52489 X Jorn 2409 Winkler240*-9 Kurek 240'9 X Sorenson 52484 8 3,015,375 1/1962 Lickliter287189.36 3,239,035 3/1966 Znamirowski 52484 X OTHER REFERENCES 5Architectural Forum, February 1946, pages 98 and 99.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary ExaminJer.

M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A SUSPENDED CEILING CONTRUCTION HAVING TRANSVERSE AND LONGITUDINALRAIL MEMBES, CEILING MATERIALS SUPPORTED BETWEEN THE RAIL MEMBERS, ANDAT LEAST ONE PAIR OF OPPOSING, OPEN RAIL MEMBERS, A FIXTURE SUPPORTASSEMBLY COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE ELONGATED FIXTURE HOUSING MOUNTED INUPWARDLY COVED RELATION BETWEEN SAID ONE PAIR OF OPEN RAIL MEMBERS INSAID FIXTURE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY; FIXTURE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAIDHOUSING; A PLURALITY OF YOKE ASSEMBLIES, EACH INCLUDING UPWARDLYINCLINED SIDE MEMBERS AND APEX MEANS, THE SIDE MEMBERS EACH HAVING ANUPPER END AND A LOWER END; THE APEX MEANS INCLUDING TRANSVERSELYARRANGED APEX ELEMENTS WHICH CORRELATE THE RESPECTIVE SIDE MEMBER UPPERENDS IN A MANNER SUCH THAT THE FIXTURE HOUSING IS ENGAGED AND SUPPORTEDTHEREBY; EACH FIXTURE HOUSING BEING MOUNTED BETWEEN THE UPPER ENDS OFTHE SIDE MEMBERS; MEANS CONNECTING THE LOWER ENDS OF THE SIDE MEMBERS TOTHE RAIL MEMBERS OF SAID ONE PAIR AT SPACED LOCATIONS; ENGAGEMENT MEANSASSOCIATED WITH THE SIDE MEMBERS FOR RETAINING BLOCKS OF CEILINGMATERIAL; BLOCKS OF CEILING MATERIAL BETWEEN THE SIDE MEMBERS ENGAGED BYSAID ENGAGEMENT MEANS; THE BLOCKS BEING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY INCLINEDFROM THE CEILING; AND THE BLOCKS BEING INCLINED TO THE FIXTURE HOUSINGTO SPAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID ONE PAIR OF OPEN RAIL MEMBERS AND TOLOCATE THE FIXTURE HOUSING IN SAID UPWARDLY COVED RELATION TO THE ONEPAIR OF RAIL MEMBERS.